Military Wiki
XBT-17
Stearman XBT-17
Role Training monoplane
National origin United States
Manufacturer Stearman Aircraft
First flight 1940
Number built 1

The Stearman XBT-17 was a prototype 1940s American two-seat low-wing monoplane primary trainer designed and built by Stearman Aircraft (as the Model X-90).[1] It was evaluated by the United States Army Air Force in 1942 as the XBT-17.[2]

Design and development[]

The X-90 was a low-wing cantilever monoplane with two-seats in tandem under an enclosed canopy.[1] It had a fixed Conventional landing gear and was powered by a 225 hp (168 kW) Lycoming R-680 engine and first flew in 1940.[1] It had wooden wings and a steel tube forward fuselage in order minimise use of aluminium.[3] In 1942 the aircraft was re-engined with a 450 hp (336 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-985 engine and re-designated the Model X-91.[1] The X-91 was evaluated by the United States Army Air Force as the XBT-17 but no more were built.[1][2]

Variants[]

Stearman X-90
Prototype basic trainer with a 225 hp (168 kW) Lycoming R-680 engine.[1]
Stearman X-91
The X-90 re-engined with a 450 hp (336 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-985 engine for USAAF evaluation.[1]
Stearman XBT-17
United States Army Air Force designation for the X-91.[2]

Specifications (XBT-17)[]

Data from [4]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Length: 27 ft 9 in (8.46 m)
  • Wingspan: 35 ft 9 in (10.90 m)
  • Wing area: 200 sq ft (19 m2)
  • Empty weight: 3,080 lb (1,397 kg)
  • Gross weight: 4,150 lb (1,882 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-1 , 450 hp (340 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 190 mph (306 km/h; 165 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 160 mph (139 kn; 257 km/h)
  • Service ceiling: 20,000 ft (6,096 m)
  • Rate of climb: 1,300 ft/min (6.6 m/s)

See also[]

References[]

Notes
  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 "American airplanes: Stearman". www.aerofiles.com. 1 December 2008. http://aerofiles.com/_stear.html. Retrieved 2010-02-16. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Andrade 1979, p. 61
  3. Bowers 1989, p.270.
  4. Bowers 1989, p.271.
Bibliography
  • Andrade, John (1979). U.S.Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909. Midland Counties Publications. ISBN 0-904597-22-9. 
  • Bowers, Peter M. (1989). Boeing Aircraft since 1916 (Third ed.). London: Putnam. ISBN 0-85177-804-6. 
All or a portion of this article consists of text from Wikipedia, and is therefore Creative Commons Licensed under GFDL.
The original article can be found at Stearman XBT-17 and the edit history here.